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October 21, 2011

Deliver Me From Evil-Review

The book:Deliver Me From Evil (book #1 in the Freedom Series) introduces readers to Mara, an eighteen-year-old girl who has been enslaved for nearly ten years, having been sold by her parents in Mexico and then smuggled across the border into San Diego where she was forced into sexual slavery. Readers will also meet 18-year-old, Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his 16-year-old sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara’s and who become involved in her dramatic rescue.

Interwoven between the stories of Mara, Jonathan, and Leah is the heartbreaking story of another young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego. This book captures the reader from the start. You'll want to read it from beginning to end.

The review: Kathi Macias is a masterful story-teller. This year, I have read a half dozen of her books and have found each one to be far more than a good fictional read. They go deep touching on sensitive issues within our society in a way that is educational, informative and challenging. Deliver Me From Evil brings to light the horrors involved in sexual slavery. When I began reading I was not certain that I could endure the pain involved in the storyline. It paints that realistic of a picture of the plight of those who are victims of such atrocities. Despite the dark storyline, I found myself unable to stop reading. I'm so thankful I continued. A little later in the book hope was introduced in the form of a young man who, despite floundering in his faith, when confronted head-on with several sexual slaves discovers his mission in life. His mission, which should be the same for each one of us, is to find a way to help set sexual captives free and abolish human trafficking forever.

To say much more would give the story away. I don't want to do that, although I will give a copy of the book away at the end of this post. Please stay tuned for details. You do not want to miss the opportunity to read Deliver Me from Evil. It could mean the difference for the life of someone you have never met, or someone that you will come to know.

Let me explain. There are many misconceptions regarding human trafficking. I know this because I possessed some of them prior to reading this book. I knew that the issue was destructive and devastating. I also knew that it was growing. Yet somehow I had the mistaken notion that this evil was happening outside of the United States. It is a huge issue in foreign countries but it is also a growing problem in America.

I couldn't stop thinking about the subject, after putting the book down, so I did a little research. It appears that over the past few years human trafficking in America has increased massively. Some estimate that as many as 18,000 people are being trafficked within our own country each year. And, it is highly doubtful that those numbers accurately reflect the magnitude of the problem since it is, obviously, an illegal activity and those being exploited are unable to free themselves and or contact the authorities.

While searching further I was grieved to find that in my home state of Tennessee an increasing number of children, under the age of 14, are being used as sexual slaves. That means the problem isn't just in our country. It's basically in my backyard.

I've come away from this book with the knowledge that WE have got to become properly educated on this subject. There are ways to help. Sex rings can be broken up. It is possible for human trafficking to be abolished. There is hope for those being held captive against their will. We can make a difference. But it will require much prayer and organized action on our part.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whether you are a pastor, teacher, parent, or student there is something to be learned from Deliver Me From Evil. It is a faith-based story but even an unbeliever can benefit from reading it. How else can we part of the solution without first understanding the problem?

Kathi Macias has done an outstanding job of shining the light on this issue. I hope that you will take the time to read Deliver Me From Evil and prayerfully consider what you can do to help abolish sexual slavery right here in our own backyard.

I'll be giving a copy of Deliver Me From Evil away to one of my readers on Saturday, October 29th. If you would like to enter to win, please leave a comment on either this post or on the interview with Kathi Macias.

The author: Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

7 comments:

Having a teenage daughter used to make me extra sensitive to the thought of Human Trafficking. I too have been looking closer at cases that I feel were a result of this growing, awful, and really unbelievable thing. At first I thought it only happened overseas and never thought it would occur in my state or even my city. It is such an issue now that in our church they actually had a seminar for anyone who wanted to go and find out more about this. I am thankful for the book being written and would love to read it especially because of the review I have seen. Bringing attention to something that is uncomfortable or just plain sickening is the way to help these type of things stop. Or prompts people, such as myself and my daughter to seek out ways to protect ourselves if we find ourselves in any kind of safety situation. Something we normally wouldn't even think to do.

Thank you so much for this thoughtful review of Deliver Me From Evil. It was a tough book/series to research and write, but I'm so glad I did, as daily I'm receiving thanks from readers whose eyes have been opened regarding this atrocity. May we band together to work for abolition!

I'm so glad I read your review on Deliver Me From Evil & finding your blog as well. I have asked the Lord what is my part in all of this? What can I do along side of prayer to further the destruction of such an atrosity?.... Looking forward to reading the book & becoming part of the solution. Miss u Melinda & looking forward to see you again on our next adventure! hugs

Wow, what an important book for Kathi to write! Thank you posting this good review, Melinda. It stirs my heart. I don't think most of us realize the growing statistics regarding sex trafficking - it's unbelievable (and heart-breaking)...especially to realize it's probably happening in our own backyards. We need to do all we can to help abolish this horrific crime.